SALEM, Mass. — Two former “best buddies” from Saratoga Nazarene Church say they learned the hard way that a lifetime is too long to live as friends, despite the claims of a popular Christian song.

Theresa and Dalia, both 13, became best friends the day they met in third grade. They soon realized they were the only serious Christians in the school, and both had major crushes on Michael W. Smith.

“We used to bounce on my bed using hairbrushes as microphones and singing ‘Friends’ to each other,” says Theresa. “I’d sing Amy Grant’s part and she’d sing Michael W. Smith’s part. Then we’d laugh and roll around. We knew our friendship was forever, like the song said.”

But at the end of eighth grade, things hit a rough patch. Dalia quit wearing her Amy Grant Hearts in Motion Concert Tour T-shirt to school on Fridays, as she and Theresa had done for years.

“That felt like betrayal,” Theresa said. “I was totally alone.”

Then both girls developed a crush on the same boy, Brad Loudermilk, the only decent-looking Christian in the school. Out of spite, Dalia switched her crush to a non-Christian guy, and the friendship with Theresa was effectively severed.

Theresa went home after school and ripped the Michael W. Smith poster from her wall, then crumpled onto her bed and sobbed.

“I guess friends will say never and the welcome does end,” she said bitterly. •